2012 will be forever remembered as the year of Hurricane Sandy.

The storm did over $50-billion in damage in the Northeast, playing out a worst case scenario exacerbated by sea-level rise. In low-lying South Florida, the problem of rising seas is more apparent than ever, the issue has recently come front and center in planning for the future.

Talk about your good timing.

For artburstmiami.com

If audiences feel empowered after a Venus Rising performance, then members of this globally-inspired group have accomplished their mission.

“We want to uplift and inspire,” says Founding Director Zeva Soroker, who started the all-female dance and drum group in 2003. “Music is an amazing thing,” she adds. “It helps with harmonizing and healing.”

Students and Florida taxpayers pay a price for remedial education in several ways

From 2004 to 2011, Florida’s remedial education costs for both students and schools ballooned from $118 million to $168 million. At the same time, statecollege funding has declined $544 million since 2007, causing tuition increases and creating a greater need for publicly funded financial aid.

John McAfee, the anti-virus software founder wanted for questioning in connection with a murder in Belize, landed at Miami International Airport last night for what he called some rest and relaxation in South Beach.

But  it was an unplanned vacation.

Details from WLRN Miami Herald News:

Foreclosures continue to plague Florida, and the situation is getting worse.

Details from WLRN Miami Herald News:

Indiana Superintendent Tony Bennett will be Florida's next education commissioner. The Florida Board of Education unanimously selected Bennett, a protege of former Gov. Jeb Bush. As Indiana's chief, Tony Bennett imported Florida education ideas to the Hoosier state. Board of education members cite Bennett's familiarity with new Common Core standards as Florida transforms how schools teach and test students. Bennett says he wants Florida to remain a national education reform      leader. "I think we have a great opportunity to capture Florida's moment," Bennett says.

White House Domestic Policy Council Director Cecilia Munoz voices 

President Barack Obama’s concerns about what the impact of a failure to reach a budget agreement could mean for Latin families.